Transmission



July 27, 1948.

Filed Aug. 16, 1944 H. D. POLIE 2,445,968

TRANSMISSION l 3 Sheets-Sheet l H. D. POLIE TRANSMISSION July 2'?,V1948.

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 16, 1944 Patented `luly 27, 1948TRANSMISSION Henry D. Polic, Detroit, Mich., assignor to The MurrayCorporation of America, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of DelawareApplication August 16, 1944, Serial No. 549,689

(Cl. I4- 68) 11 Claims.

I'his invention relates to transmissions and particularly to a new andnovel transmission which produces an oscillating movement between twomembers rotated in unison with each other.

The transmission may be employed on a washing machine such as thatdisclosed in the G. E. Ehrling application, Serial No. 507,532, filedOctober 25, 1943, now Patent 2,431,925, issued December 2, 1947, andassigned to the assignee of the present invention. The washing machineof the co-pending application comprises a tub supported on suitablestandards with its axis disposed horizontally and in which a rotor ismounted to be driven in rotation on a, horizontal axis at a constantspeed. Within the rotor a squeeze bar is lmounted for rotation with therotor and for oscillatory movement relative to a shoulder projectingfrom the peripheral wall of the rotor.

The transmission rotates the rotor and the squeeze bar and produces anoscillatory movement of the squeeze bar to and from the shoulder andapplies a pressure between the bar and shoulder for squeezing theclothes therebetween. 'I'he oscillation occurs once or any number oftimes for each revolution of the rotor, and in the structure hereinillustrated a single oscillation of the squeeze bar occurs relative tothe shoulder during a single rotati-on of the rotor. While thetransmission has many applications, its use for driving the washingmachine will beA described herein in detail by way of example only.

The transmission embodies a housing containing a hollow shaft forsupporting and driving the rotor and a shaft internally thereof forsupporting and operating a squeeze bar. A worm and worm wheel drive therotor shaft from a suitable motor and the rotor and squeeze bar shaftare interconnected by a pressure-applying toggle `mechanism of uniqueconstruction. This embodies `an arm secured to the rotor shaft, a bellcrank secured to the squeeze bar shaft, an arm pivoted on the squeezebar shaft, and a pair of toggle links interconnecting the arms. A`roller is provided on the toggle links which engages a cam track ofpredetermined form.

A pair of springs having different pressure-exerting characteristicsinterconnects the arms of the bell cranks to the two arms actuated bythe toggle mechanism which is secured thereto. When the rotor shaft isdriven, the arm on the shaft carries the toggle mechanism therewithwhich advances the bell crank and pivoted arm and spring therewith tohave the squeeze bar shaft all rotate as a unit. The squeeze bar ispositioned a predetermined distance from the shoulder of the rotor bythe longer, weaker spring which extends between the rotor shaft arm andone arm of the bell crank. As the roller advances along the dwellportion of the cam track, no oscillation oc- -curs between the squeezebar and shoulder. As soon, however, as the roller reaches the portion ofthe cam track inwardly of the dwell, the toggle arms are deflectedagainst the springs to first collapse the weaker and longer springbetween the arm on the rotor shaft and that of the bell crank to advancethe squeeze bar against the shoulder of the rotor or the clothesdisposed therebetween. After this occurs, the roller passes over anotherportion of the cam surface which further deflects the toggle links and,since no further movement can be applied between the squeeze bar andshoulder, the heavier spring between the pivoted arm and the bell crankis deflectedto eXerta substantial pressure between the squeeze bar andshoulder and on the clothes therebetween. The mechanical advantage ofthe mechanism and the calibration of the spring produces a pressure ofseveral hundred pounds between the shoulder and squeeze bar and may bevaried by changing the L. effective lengths of the arms, bell crank, andlinks,

as well as the springs.

Thereafter the roller moves along a relieved portion of the cam an-dalong the dwell to relieve and then retract the toggle links whichreleases the pressure lon the bar and clothes and moves the bar awayfrom the shoulder. If more than one oscillation for each rotation isdesired, other cam surfaces may be provided at other points of the camtrack to produce the additional number of oscillations for a singlerotation.

Accordingly, the main objects of this invention are; to provide atransmission for driving a pair of shafts in rotation and producingrelative oscillation therebetween; to provide a transmission forrotating the shafts of a rotor and squeeze bar and oscillating thesqueeze bar within the rotor through the operation of lever arms andlinks actuated by a roller moving upon Aa cam track; to provide atransmission having an outer driving shaft and an inner ydriven shaftwith an arm on the driving shaft which is connected with the arm on theinner shaft through a spring, which inner shaft is connected throughanother arm and spring to a pivoted arm joined to the pivoted arm on theouter shaft through a pair of toggle links; to produce the rotation of arotor and squeeze bar and a relative oscillation therebetween whileapplying pressure between the squeeze bar and a shoulder within therotor by the operation of the motor driving the rotor shaft in rotationWhich operates through a pair of toggie links following a cam track foradvancing the squeeze bar against the shoulder and for thereafterapplying a `pressure therebetween; and in general to provide atransmission having only one set of gear elements for producing therotation and the relative oscillation between a pair of telescopedshafts, all of which is simple in construction, positive in operation,and economical of manufacture.

Other objects and features of novelty of the invention will bespecifically pointed out or `will become apparent when referring, for abetter understan-ding of the invention, to the following vdescriptiontaken in conjunction with the accom-- panying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a broken sectional view of. a Wash" ing machine having atransmission embodying features of this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the transmission illustrated `inFig.` i;

Vvvl'ig.z 3 is a sectional view of thelstructure illustra-tedffinvl'ig.2,-t'aken on the line 3 3 thereof;

Fig; fl isa reduced view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 2, asviewed from the line l-ft thereof', and v v'Fig 5 is .a view ofstructure, similar to that illustrated in Fig. B, showing a further formwhich the invention may assume.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, a washing machine lil isillustrated embodying a tub Il of cylindrical form having its axisdisposed hori zon'tally and provided with a front opening end closed bya hinged door l2. Stirrups' i3 are provided vonA the sides of the tub inwhichthe ends of ifapipe lfrarne ldfprojectto `form the'supportforftheJentire washing machine. The rear wall l5 "which -encloses theopen endy of the tub ll supports'a removable casing l'which enclosesatransmission il driven by amotor i8 through arbeitand'pulleyconnectioni9. As described in the above-mentioned (zo-pending application, thetub` H contains a rotor 22 .and `a squeeze bar 2|, both of which arevdriven in rotation by the trans` mission il uand relatively oscillatedtoproduce a squeezing action on the clothes which are'tumubledtherebet'weeniby the rotation ofthe rotor.

The present `invention pertains to the transmission' l'l whifchdrivesthe rotor and squeeze bar infrotation and-produces ythe relativeoscillation therebetween which applies pressure between the squeezelbarand a Shoulder 23 on the peripheral wall of the rotor, 'asillustrated'in IFig. 4. The rotor22 has its vend wall supported :on ahollow shaft 24 which isfmounted on bearings 2E supported fwithin ahousing 26. A'wormfwheel 2l is'zseeured to the shaft 2.5i by a key 23and is driven by a Aworm 29 supported in 'a bearing 3lwithinf'thehousing 26 and driven `through the pulley-and :beltconnection i@ bythe motor i8. Anfarm V132 is secured to the shaft 24 Abya1key'33. f The squeeze bar 2l is mounted ona'shaft 34 and: sealedagainst the passage of water from-the tub y'by the sealingfelement 3&5.The shaft is supported-'on a bearingli at'one'end and on the cover Sfof'thehousing 25 at the other end. A thrust bearing element is secured tothe end of the shaft k34 by a screw 39. The shaft has a'bell crank t!secured thereto by a key 42 having in one arm 43 thereof anaperture it:in Vwhich a spring 4:3 is secured. The 'opposite arm 4S of the bellcrank 4I has an aperture 'lll in which a much heavier spring 'M5 issupported.

Asfslot fis provided through Vthe bearing of thebell crank fil kin whichtheend El of an arm 52 is disposed when journaled on the shaft 34 forpivotal movement thereon. The arms 32 and 52 are interconnected by apair `of toggle links 53 and 54 which are pivoted thereto and are joinedin pivotal relation on a pin on which a roller 56 is pivotally mounted.The roller engages a cam 'track 5'! on which it rides as the shaft 24 isdriven to produce the'movemen't of the toggle links 53 and 54 toward andfrom the aXe's of the shafts.

Pin Iarcuate nose 58 is provided on the arm 32iwhich rolls and slidesover a plate 59 supw ported on the end of the spring 45. A similararcuate nose 5\i"is provided on the arm 52 in engagement with a plate 62carried on the end of 'the spring 58." In the position illustrated inFig.. 3,. ,the -roller 56 is in engagement with the dwell portion S3 ofthe cam track El, in which `position-the squeeze bar 2i is separa-tedfrom the shoulder 23 on the periphery of the rotor. As the shafts.rotate in unison; l -thewclothes 4witlfiin the --rotor will be tumbledindependent-of anylaction. thereon-bythe squeeze barandshoulder. .As theAroller 55 `approaches the -cam surface portion tilt, the roller willmove inwardly toward "theaXes of the shafts, spreading ythe toggle links53and ed, which will cause a relative :movement between the bellf crankvarm M on the'squeeze bar shaft Stand the rotor shaflt `2fi.` Thiswillzresult lfrom the relative :advancement ofthe link 54,- arri/152,and bell crank lll towardthe link 32 as the spring li5 collapses asitwithstands -less4 pressure fthan the spring 23. This movement'tadvances the squeeze bar toW'ar-d the shoulder "E'Sto lpi'cklup and'hold,any of the clothes'whi'ch are 'tumbled therebetween 'during the'cycleof `operation over the dwell portion 63 at the Vcam-trackel.

A further ,movementof the roller 56 advances the roller over the camtrack portion 65 which n further moves the froller' toward fthe axes'offthe shafts. As ithe squeeze bar can" no 'longer be moved except under'greater-pressure, the spring All will-then-bedeiiected 1and will-applyaxs'lighte ly further movement between -the bar and shoule' der under a'substantial load -which Vwill force the 4water through :the clothes. AsthefshaftEi continues to advance,` the wheel' :passes ,along afoam-track wportion 56 vwhich` permits `the. roller to:movefawayfrom-the center .of the vsl'iailts 24 and-'M until it againrollsf lupon Athe'dwell portion 63. I As the `roller-.passesacrossthe'cam portion, the toggle `links "53 and 54 movefaway from theaXesf-of the shafts and rst .release yfthe pressure' on thespring 481andthereafter permit' the spring l5 i toy expand, which moves thevv'squeeze .--bar '2 I away-fy from the -shoulder "23 to thereby releasethe clothes which were Vsqueezed atherebetween during `the operation.`During :each rotation of. the: shafts '24 and 34, asqueezingf.operation,is performed. between :the squeeze bar 2l and theshoulder -23 `on the clothesmcaught therebetween` during the tumblingoperation; VThe clothes which are squeezed are thereafter released toVper-- mit them to tumble-along withtheother :clothes across the rotorin, the mannerA outlined in the above-mentioned co-pending application:

As lpointed out hereinabove, additional -cam portions 64, Byand icanbeadded to *the cam' trackl to provide `an additional number of squeezingvoperations for each'lrotation of the roton Itis to be understood that`the camtrack maybe changed to any'desirableformto'lengthen or shortenthe period of dwellor thevperiod during which: `thefmaxirriurn pressureis. appliedfbehereinabove.

'roller 56` and the cam track 51. structure of Fig. `5 is the. same asthe structure g ReferringtoFig, a further form of the invention isillustrated, that wherein the toggle links 53 and 54 are slightlymodified to produce a beu-cranknnk 'is and a link 1s pivoted theretoonthepivot '14. `The arm 15 of the link 1I supi ports the roller 56 on apin 16 for rolling movement-along the cam 'track 51. The opposite endsof thebell crank 'llV andlink 1'3 are pivoted to the 'arms 32 and 52inthe manner pointed out The maximum pressure is exerted upon the spring48 whenfthe bell crank 1| and the link 13 `are in substantially astraight-lined position, as illustrated in dot and Vdash line at 11;This provides the maximum application `of forc'e'to the' spring 48without overloading the Otherwise the illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4inclusive.

It will be noted that the housing 26 is supl ported on the removablewall l5 of the tub by a series of screws lso that when the wall l5 isremoved the transmissiommotor, controls, rotor, and squeeze bar are`removed as a unit. These may be returned to the shop for repair andaanewunit substituted `therefor so that the i machine may be retained inoperation until repairs have been-,madel It will be noted further thatathrust washer 19 `is disposed between the endof-fthe rotor shaft 24an'dthe bell crank 4l to "prevent engagement therebetween and to assist inthe sealing of the shaft 34 relative to the shaft 24.

What is claimed is:

1. A transmission including, in combination, a housing, an external andan internal shaft supported by the housing for rotation, means fordriving said external shaft in rotation, mechanism interconnecting theshafts, means for shifting said mechanism to produce the rotation of theinternal shaft with and relative to the external shaft, and means forapplying a pressure Ybetween said shafts while reducing the relativerotation therebetween through the further shifting of said mechanism.

2. A transmission including, in combination, a housing, an external andan internal shaft supported by the housing for rotation, means fordriving one of said shafts in rotation, a rotor supported by saidexternal shaft having a shoulder, an element supported by said internalshaft within said rotor for movement to and from said shoulder when theshafts are relatively rotated, mechanism interconnecting the shafts,means for shifting said mechanism to produce the rotation of both of theshafts with and relative to each other by the driving of said one shaftfor producing movement between said element and shoulder, and meanspermitting a variation in the relative movement between the element andshoulder independent of the continued shifting of said mechanism.

3. A transmission, including, in combination, a housing, an external andan internal shaft supported by the housing for rotation, means fordriving one of said shafts in rotation, mechanism interconnecting theshafts, means for shifting said mechanism to produce the rotation ofboth of the shafts with and relative to each other by the driving ofsaid one shaft, and means for establishing a pressure between saidshafts through the further operation of said mechanism by the furtherdriving of said one shaft when the relative rotation of said shafts isresisted.

4. A transmission including, `in combination, a housing, an external andan internal shaft supported by the housing for rotation, a rotorsupported on said external shaft, an element within said rotor supportedon said internal shaft, means for driving one of 'said shaftsinrotation, mechanism interconnecting the shafts, means for shifting saidmechanism to producefthe rotationof both of the shafts, the rotor andelement` with and relative to each other by the driving of said oneshaft, and means `for applying a pressure between said rotor and elementwhile lreducing the relative rotation therebetween as the mechanism isfurther shifted.

5. A transmission including, in combinatio an external and internalshaft disposed ini` telescoped relation, means for driving said externalshaft, a housingfor supporting said shafts, a cam track in said housing,mechanism interconnecting said shafts, a pair of toggle linksinterconnecting said mechanism, means on said toggle links in engagementwith said trackfor operating said mechanism and saidshafts relativetoeach othenand means for applying a pressure between said shafts whenthe relative rotation thereof is reduced and said mechanism is furtheroperated.

6. A transmission including, in combination, a housing, an external andinternal shaft journaled in said housing for rotation, means for drivingsaid external shaft, an arm on said external shaft, a`bell crank securedto said internal shaft, an arm journaled for rotation onsaid interna-lshaft, a pair of toggle links having their ends pivoted to said arms, aroller pivoted on the toggle links, a cam track within said housing withwhich said roller engagesand springs disposed between said arms and bellcrank for producing a relative rotation between said shafts and forapplying a predetermined pressure therebetween through the operation ofsaid toggle links produced by the rotation of the roller over said camtrack. l

7. A transmission including, in combination, a housing, an external andinternal shaft journaled in said housing for rotation, means for drivingsaid external shaft, an arm on said external shaft, a bell crank securedto said internal shaft, an arm journaled for rotation on said internalshaft, a pair of toggle links having their ends pivoted to said arms, aroller pivoted on the toggle links, a cam track within said housing withwhichsaid roller engages, and springs disposed between said arms andbell crank for producing a relative rotation between said shafts and forapplying :a predetermined pressure therebetween through the operation ofsaid toggle links produced by the` rotation of the roller over said camtrack, the further movement of the roller over the cam track permittinga change of position ofthe toggle links to release said pressure and toreturn the shafts to their original position relative to each other.

8. In a transmission, a housing, external and internal telescoped shaftsdisposed within said housing, means for driving said external shaft inrotation, an arm on said external shaft, a bell crank on said internalshaft, an arm journaled on said internal shaft, a pair of springs havingdifferent pressure characteristics disposed between the bell crank andsaid arms, and a 'toggle mechanism interconnecting said arms forproducing movement of the shafts with and relative to each other.

9. In a transmission, a housing, external and internal telescoped shaftsdisposed within said A-fhousing",-. :means .fori driving 'said/externalshaft dri-rotation; an arm on ;saidzexternalf-shaft; 'a bell n-crankf onsaid internal:` shaft,- 1 an `arm; journaled vonsaidfinterna'l shaft, apair of 'springs having zt'd'i'ierent :pressure L characteristicsdisposed between the.. bell. crankrand .said iarms', afftoggleVmechanism interconnectingv said arms vfor produoingsmovementf ofthe-shafts with'l and =relative toweachfother, .a camT track within thehousing, fand la rollerfassociated with said `toggle mechalinsm forchangingfitsposition. v

'.'fiOJffIn a transmission,r ahousingnexternalrand internal rtelescoped::shaftsy disposedwithin said housing, means for driving saidexternalvshaft .in-rotationgan` arm ony saidaexternal shaft, a bell morankonsaid internal shaft,1an arm journaledon fsaidJinter-nal shaft, a` 'pairof springs having dif .;ferentpressure characteristics" disposedloetween "the b`ell 'crank and said arms, a toggle mechanismninterconnect-,ing said-arrrisI for. producing move-y rment fof' thevshafts with andy relative to Aeach rother, aI cam-,track within the.lhousing, a roller :associated with said toggle mechanism for changfing'its position, saidxcam track having. a dwell @portion in which theshafts'are driven in unison, afcamportion which produces the rotationofthe .rsi-"iaftsarelative to=eachsother, and a further .cam

portion ,for applying afpressure between .the two fsha-fts after: they'have .been rotated toa desired related position. l .,:11..-Inatransmission, a housing, external and internal'ftelescopedshaftsdisposed within said its position, saidi,camrtrack'havingA a dwell portion-in which the shaftsfare driveninvuni-sonfaa cam portionwhichproducesnthe-rotation ofothe -'-shafts-relative to-eachfother, avfurther cam porrtion for applying4 a pressurenbetween YVtima-@two fshafts f after they havefloeen rotated ftot affdesired related position,:and a further,,canisportion-mr releasing the pressureV :andfiore-:permitting ithe shafts to rotate to.-.ltheirrinitialrelativeepositions.

HENRY;1).,JPQIIQIE.v

REFERENCES. ,CITED .j

f The.' following references 1are? of recordvlin* the -filc ofthis`patent:

i UNITED .STATES PATENTS Number Name r'iDate 2,336,361 Lear f'..-;Dec".17;:21943 v FQREIGN, PATENTS Number 'Country fifDate.

4803115 i vFrance Q!Ma y:$19.16

